ILA Strike Ends As Sides Reach Tentative Agreement
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and maritime employers represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are in agreement on a tentative deal that will end the ILA strike that started on Tuesday. The tentative agreement on wages will extend the current master contract until January 15, 2025 and allows both sides more time to return to the table to come to terms on all other outstanding issues in negotiations.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the ILA members will receive a $4 per hour wage increase to get the talks restarted and extend the current contract. This represents a 62% increase in wages for the longshoremen.
It was reported that the ILA was looking for a 77% wage hike over the course of a new contract, while the USMX was willing to offer around a 50% increase.
The agreement means that all work covered by the existing master contract will resume immediately. However, while workers are returning to the ports, it will still take weeks to clear up the existing congestion caused by the strike.
Scarbrough will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. If you have any further questions, please reach out to your Scarbrough representative.